Step tread



',F. H. sTANWooD".

STEP TRE/(n.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. 191?.

Patented Nov, 2L w22;

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Patented Non, 2l; 1922 l entre@ etarras ontarien;

A COREOBATION OF MAINE.

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:Application Bled 3, 1917. Serial No. 166,258.

Improvement in Step 'li-eads, of which the following is a speeiication.

This invention relates in general to step treads and has more particular reference to steptreads adapted for use on automobile running boards and the like.

A'principal. object of the invention is the.

provision of a step tread for this and other uses which will cover substantiallythe entire surface of the running board and which will be adapted to prevent slipping of the foot of a person enteringa car and adapted also to clean a large part of the mud and dirt from the shoe.

A further object of the invention is the p provision of a step tread possessing these and other important advantages which will be of pleasing appearance,b adding materially to the general appearance of the automobile provided therewith.

A further object of the invention is tlie provision of such a step tread which will he of enduring eiliciency and which may be cheaply manufactured and readily installed both at the factory when the car is constructed and by the` user toreplace other, step treads and to be positioned upon the ordinary running board of the car already in use. A p `Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better iinderstood from the following description which, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, erred embodiments thereof.

Referring to the drawing,

Figure l illustrates a top plan view of a step tread embodying my invention and showing the same positioned upon the runnin board of an automobile; g

ligig. 2 is a partial side elevation of the saine, the step tread and running board lieshown in section;

ig. 3 is a perspective view of the step illustrates preto disclose tread with the parts broken away of the construction;

further details Fig. 4 is an FRANK E. STANWOOD, DE' CHIGAG, MIDIS, ASSIGNOR .Tb STANWOOD EQUPl/IEQ COMPANY, 01E' BOSTON',V MASSACHUSETTS, '1

enlarged transverse sectional v view of the samein place upon the-running board of a car; .i

Fig.. 5 is a perspective-view embodiment of mypresent invention;

of `a second,

Fig. 6` is a longitudinal sectional view of;

F ig. 7 is a section taken substantially on the lines 7 7 of Fig. 5; I

F 1g. 8 is a section taken substantially on the line 8 8 of Fig. 5; and

Fig 9 is a erspeetive view of oneothe reinforcing p ates provided in the step tread shown in Figure 5.`

F or the purpose of illustrating my pres-..y

ent invention I have shown on thedrawing a part of an automobile onwhich reference character 11 designates the body; reference characters 12 the mud guards or fenders and reference character 13 the step or' running board proper.

ln both of the embodiments of the -invntion shown the step tread is adapted to fillv the space between the fenders to completely cover the surface of the step or running board. lnthe embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 the step tread comprises a body of rubber or other soft material in which, is embedded a reinforcg sheet 14. The rubber or composition .is disposed in a sheet 15 above the reinforcing plate 14 and a sheet 16 beneath it.

ln the present instance the sheet 14 eX'- tends throughout the length of the tread andl is substantially co-extensive with the outer upper surface of the running board. At the front edge the sheet 14 is bent down to provide a rounded nosing 17 terminating just beneath the curved nosing18 of the forward edge of the running board. The rubber or composition sheets 15 and 16 are extended` beyond and beneath this forward edge oiif the reinforcing plate 14 and terminate in a land extending longitudinally of the running board are provided in front of each door` adapted to be embedded 1n the rubber body 19 and to be secured tothe vertical part 22 of the running board by bolts 27 is provided to hold the forward or outer edge of the step tread in place. The inner edge is held in place by a similar plate 28 d1sposed upon the upper face of the tread and secured by bolts 29 taking through the two sheets' 15 and 16 through the reinforce 14 and through the body 13 of the running board. The

rubber sheets are preferably vulcanized tothe. platelt and Wherethe step tread is positionedv at the automobile factory, if desired the tread may be vulcanized also to the running board itself. y

Referring now to Figs. 5 to .9 inclusive,

i it will be noted that this embodiment of the invention differs only from the one already described in that partial reinforcements only are used. Manifestly the greatest wear occurs upon the part'of the step tread located immediately in front of the door and beneath the ribs generally indicated at 31. The reasons for this greater wear at these points are believed to be first because these parts of the running board are subject to greatest .use and second because the action of the ribs in cleaning the feet causes more severe strains in the material. In this form of the invention two reinforcing plates 32, each preferably having a number of holes 33 through it are embeddedin the rubber body 34 beneath the area covered by the ribs. The remainder ofthe step tread' consisting merely of the body of rubber-or other suitable composition. Similar fastenin devices 35 and 36 are provided and the tread appearance, generally speaking, of the tread first described.

It will be manifest that the invention in either form can be readily applied, cheaply manufactured and that it will be of comfortable and convenient use.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant.advantages will be understood from the foregoing without further description and it will be obvious that various changes can be made in the form,

construction and arrangements of the parts without departing from the spirit and sco e of the invention, the forms hereinbefore escribed being merely preferred embodiments thereof.

I claim:

1. A step tread for an automobile or the like, comprising a covering for substantially has the 4 armenia ribs falling before the automobile doors and having a metal reinforcing member incorpoi-ated therein beneath said ribs.

2. A step tread for an automobile or the like, comprising a covering for substantially the entire upper surface and edge of therunning board, said covering consistirg of a' sheet of plastic material provided w1 -upstanding flexible ribs falling before the automobile doors and having a thickened nosin extending over the edge of the running board beyond said ribs'.

3. A step tread for an automobile or the like, comprising a plastic body adapted to cover substantially the entire area. of the running board and having upstandmg ribs `in circumscribed areas only of said body, and a rigid reinforcing member in said body beneath said ribs. A

4. A step tread for an automobile or the like, comprising a bod of soft material extendinrr over substantially the entire surface of the running board, said body having upstanding ribs arranged in groups extendino' from front to. back` before the automobilae doorsv and a serrated nosing beyond said ribs and at the ed of the running board, and a` metal rein orcing member indoors, said body having rigid reinforcing members incorporated rein beneath said ribs and being secured to the upperl surface and edge of the running board to provide a complete and uniform protection therefor.

6. Arunning board for automobiles, comprising a main support, and a covering for the upper surface and edge of said support constituting a body of plastic material procumscribed areas before the automobile doors, said body having rigid 'reinforcing members incorporated therem beneath said ribs and being secured.. to the upper surface and ed of the .running board to provide a comp ete and uniform protection therefor, said covering having a down-turned stiffv vided with upstandingv yieldable ribs in cir: l

ened outer edge causing it to t evenly and along the running board edlge.

' e or the closely A 7. step tread for an automob like, comprising a rubber covering for sub stantially the entire surface of the running board, said covering being provided in limited areas before the automobile doors with ing to conform to the edge of the running longitudinally extendingl isolated ribs and board. a thickened serrated nosing at the edge of Signed in the presence of two subscribing the Tunning board adjacent said ribs, and Witnesses.

rigid reinforcing means completely encased FRANK H. STANVOOD. in said covering beneath said ribs and beingr l/Vitnesses :v downwardly turned at the outer' edge to J. (j. CARPENTER,

supportnsaid nosing and to cause the oovei- Y M, EDNA BARRY. 

